The kind of sacrifice that really counts with God is a sacrifice of thanksgiving (verse 14a; see also verse 23a). This line is not entirely free of difficulty; as Revised Standard Version text and Good News Translation footnote show, the meaning can be “offer to God a thanksgiving sacrifice” (also New English Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, An American Translation), which was one of the prescribed sacrifices. This actually fits better with the command in verse 14b. But it seems preferable to take it as the Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version footnotes have it (also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Dahood, Weiser), with an alternative translation in a footnote. The phrase a sacrifice of thanksgiving must in some languages be shifted to a clause; for example, “give God thanks, and this will be your sacrifice” or “your sacrifice should be by saying ‘Thank you, God.’ ”

Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation follow the Hebrew in verse 14 by speaking of God in the third person, changing from the first person in verses 12-13 and 15. This may be difficult to do in some languages, since God is the speaker; so verse 14 can be “… be your sacrifice to me, your God, and give me, the Almighty….”

Pay your vows means to keep all the promises you made to offer sacrifices to the Most High (see comment on this title in 7.17).

There is no need for elaborate sacrifices; let his people only call upon God when trouble comes and he will save them; for deliver see the use of the same verb translated “save” in 6.4a. Then they will “praise” him for his help (literally “honor”; Revised Standard Version glorify).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .